Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Foreign.
You're listening to the Mistress of None podcast with Aaron Harks.
Hello, hello, hello. Welcome to the Mistress of None. This is Aaron Harks, and my guest today is Jamel Mosley. Jamel, how you doing?
[00:00:18] Speaker B: Good, good. How are you doing?
[00:00:20] Speaker A: I'm well, thank you. Thank you so much for finding time to sit down and talk to me today.
[00:00:25] Speaker B: Thanks for having me.
[00:00:26] Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, if anybody gets how busy you must be, it's me. But you might even be busier than I am, and I'd love to talk to you about all that's going on.
You already were fairly busy with everything that you were doing, and then. Well, I guess we'll work backwards. You took over the Whiskey Pickle.
[00:00:48] Speaker B: Yeah, we want to work backwards. Okay, so when you say backwards, you're saying from the most recent.
[00:00:55] Speaker A: Yeah, I'm the worst interviewer ever. So I'm gonna start with the most recent thing and then just jump all over the place. I didn't honestly plan it, but that's kind of where we're at.
[00:01:03] Speaker B: So I love this. You know, I can just come here and, you know, just let my hair down that I don't have anymore, and then, you know, we can just talk. We can have a conversation. So the Whiskey Pickle, the way that that happened is the Whiskey Pickle is this staple in Troy. You know, this bar that people love, and it's energetic, and, you know, you can. They say James and Aaron, the original owners and the creator of this space, say, this is a space where you can spend $3 or you can spend $300. Right? You can buy a cheap beer, or you can buy Louis 13, you know, expensive. You know, Pappy Van Winkle and things like that.
So this kind of, like, high, low experience, divey, kind of like just cool bar and space and a place where people feel safe, often in a place where, you know, you can have, like, just a wide breadth of an experience to be in Troy, where the music is, like, different every time you go in there.
I heard that it was closing, and it was the same week that three other spaces announced their closing in Troy.
[00:02:23] Speaker A: That was a wild week. I remember because we were collecting dates for Metroland, and we had these dates, and all of a sudden we were like, whoa. Like, boom, boom, boom.
[00:02:31] Speaker B: Tattoo.
[00:02:32] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:02:32] Speaker B: Twisted, Fiddler Street, Taco seven, Whiskey Pickle. And I called up James, and he was like, you can hear the heaviness in his voice. And you knew that he didn't want this place to close. He wanted it to work out. But they ran into some issues, you know, logistically.
And they had to close immediately. You know, I've tried to go there that same night that they announced, and it was. You know, they just said they were closed. So I called them up, and I said, hey, how can I help? I thought it would. Would be something where it's like, I'm helping provide marketing or I'm gonna do some events here, you know, with collective effort. We do events, and we do marketing. So I'm like, hey, how can this happen? And he was just done. They were done. And I said, let's have a meeting.
The same day that I was going to have the meeting, Alex Strauss from.
From the Night Owl out in Saratoga.
He's a partner out there. He said, hey, dude, you should do something with the whiskey pickle. I'm a resident DJ out at the Night Owl, and he's seeing the type of business person I am, and he knows the energy that I have for building community, and he knows how much I love Troy, so he said this would be perfect.
And two weeks later, I was a principal owner.
[00:04:14] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:04:15] Speaker B: At the Whiskey.
[00:04:16] Speaker A: Happened real fast.
[00:04:17] Speaker B: Two weeks.
[00:04:18] Speaker A: It was wild. It was wild.
[00:04:20] Speaker B: And so Alex is helping me with the operations of the joint. He's showing me the ropes.
[00:04:26] Speaker A: I think I know Alex. Did he work at Gaffney's? First bell, like, a while ago, well, before Night Owl even opened, maybe? I think so. Tall guy? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I think I know him. Yeah, yeah. It all happened so fast. I remember hearing about it. I was like, what the hell is going on? And you were already kind of on my radar, somebody that I wanted to talk to anyway. And so when I heard that, I was like, well, now, you know, we gotta make it happen. So I'm glad that we are finally doing this. This is the first of many conversations that you and I are gonna have.
[00:04:55] Speaker B: I would love that.
[00:04:55] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. Because, I mean, I have that same. Like, for me, bringing back Metroland was all about community building. And so when you say stuff like that, I'm like, yes, yes. Because that's exactly what we need right now more than ever.
[00:05:08] Speaker B: It's unfortunate that people often feel alone up here. You know, people don't feel like they belong.
And I think that's the difference between a place like the capital region versus, you know, any other major metropolitan area. It's like the access to community space and the access to options, and our options keep closing.
[00:05:38] Speaker A: Sure. Yeah.
[00:05:40] Speaker B: And then so, yeah, we got to keep it open.
[00:05:43] Speaker A: Yeah. Well, for me, as a musician and a comedian, I noticed that my options were changing so much and that the more I started doing seemed more like back end more on the marketing side. I felt like I had to completely shift everything that I was doing all the time and learn different ways to do things. And, like, I never once said, okay, I'm gonna do a magazine. But, like, that's just kind of where that led, you know, I didn't know.
[00:06:10] Speaker B: I'd own a bar.
[00:06:12] Speaker A: Exactly. Yeah.
I was like, yo, Yeah, I feel that because it was like, yeah. In April, if you told me that I was bringing back Metroland, I would have been like, the. I am. You know, when am I gonna do that? But when I. And I had somebody describe somebody else to me the other day, which it reminded me of of myself, but also of Kiki, our very good friend in common. One of many, I'm sure.
[00:06:36] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:06:36] Speaker A: And where it's like, you are so capped with. You can't possibly put another thing on your plate, but then the right thing comes along and you shoehorn it in there somehow.
[00:06:49] Speaker B: Yeah, it. It works somehow. And things had to shift a little. So I'll be DJing, much less.
[00:06:55] Speaker A: Sure.
[00:06:55] Speaker B: But. But the really cool thing about that is, like, you know, so last week we were having a night where the DJ started at. I think it was 9 o'clock or something like that. And we're starting to get people in and starting to get energetic, and people are saying, hey, when does the DJ start? And I'm like, they start at 9, but it's 8:30, so I'll just go up and do a set, you know.
[00:07:20] Speaker A: Right.
[00:07:20] Speaker B: And then I'm just like 30 minutes, you know, and then the DJ comes in. And then, you know, I got energy in this space.
[00:07:28] Speaker A: Yeah. And I've been applying things to, like, I'm trying to learn every aspect of what I'm doing so that if somebody does step out, it's like, all right, well, I'll do that today.
[00:07:38] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:07:39] Speaker A: It's good to know all of those things. So you. You wear a lot of hats.
[00:07:43] Speaker B: I became a bartender all of a sudden.
[00:07:45] Speaker A: But you know what? I saw some of the pictures, and you look very comfortable back there. And I don't think it's about the job. I think it's about the person.
[00:07:53] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:07:53] Speaker A: And the personality. And like, my. I got my brother a job bartending and being a waiter one time. He just needed some work, and he goes, I've never done it before. And I was like, you have a good personality. Fake it till you make it.
Show confidence. Pretend you know, and he was like, what if they do, like, wine pairings? I go, if the meat's red, suggest a red. If the meat's white, suggest a white. I go, you can sell it. And I go, just make some shit up. And he did. He came. He made so much money his first night. I love that because it's about your personality.
[00:08:26] Speaker B: It is.
[00:08:27] Speaker A: Even when you up. If you got a good personality, people are willing to work with you. They're willing to try out, and so you can do something that you've never done before, but if you do it with a smile and with some, you know, charisma, it'll work out.
[00:08:41] Speaker B: Yeah. And I don't want to discount how great my teams are.
[00:08:45] Speaker A: Oh, God, no.
[00:08:46] Speaker B: So I have super gracious and patient people who work with me. I have people who trust me as a boss, but then also understand I'm learning at the same time. But then, you know, really putting people in spaces and empowering them and letting them know that, hey, you are the expert at this.
[00:09:12] Speaker A: Yep.
[00:09:13] Speaker B: And affirming them in that. And especially a lot of people who may not have felt that way in other spaces, it's been really great.
[00:09:24] Speaker A: But you earned a team like that because I'm sure one of the first times that you took on an endeavor like this one like that, you threw yourself into something that you had never done before. You were probably all on your own and figuring it out all by yourself. And so through the years, you build a foundation of people that you can lean on and trust. And so I know you didn't get that overnight.
[00:09:46] Speaker B: Yeah. The way that I've found really great people is just being able to get out there and support people without expecting anything back.
[00:09:58] Speaker A: But also having a really good reputation for being that kind of person.
[00:10:01] Speaker B: Exactly.
[00:10:01] Speaker A: So when you ask somebody to come work for you, they're like, yeah, yeah, you want that kind of response.
[00:10:07] Speaker B: There. There are a lot of people like that, I'm sure. And I'm. I'm excited that my reputation has preceded me in such a way.
[00:10:15] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. Now I know, like, again, you wear a lot of hats, so it's obviously not the easiest question to answer, but, like, you know, if, like, you were in passing and somebody was like, what do you do for a living? How would you answer that? Like, rapid fire.
[00:10:30] Speaker B: So right now, I have three main businesses.
The Pickle Collective Effort and Upstate's Cold Brew.
[00:10:40] Speaker A: Okay, Upstate's Cold Brew. Is that exactly what it sounds like?
[00:10:43] Speaker B: Yeah. Basically, it's a coffee business. You know, we sell cold Brew concentrate. But then we also sell a bunch of really cool merch. And we do great events. You know, we just did a Saturday morning cartoon events where we just had old school cartoons playing and, like, we had a super Nintendo set up. And then we also had, like, cereal and milk for people to eat and. And coffee.
[00:11:11] Speaker A: Okay, I need an invite next time.
[00:11:13] Speaker B: Okay, yeah, absolutely.
[00:11:14] Speaker A: But when you say coffee, I mean, I'm in recovery, so coffee is like my.
My best friend.
[00:11:20] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:11:20] Speaker A: So, like, I lit right up. I didn't know about the coffee. I knew about the collective. So.
[00:11:24] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:11:26] Speaker A: Like. Because I know when people are like, you know, like, what do you do? I know it's, you know, not to be reductive, but. But, like, you know, I know you identify as a dj, you're an entrepreneur.
Like, if you had to pick one, like, based on what your favorite thing to do is or what you're.
[00:11:44] Speaker B: I mean, it goes back to. What we started off with is, like, community building.
[00:11:48] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:11:49] Speaker B: Also, I think I'm a problem solver.
[00:11:51] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:11:51] Speaker B: I really love solving problems. Whether that problem is I don't know how to tell my story, in which I'm a visual storyteller, you know, filmmaker, photographer, or that problem is I'm not caffeinated.
[00:12:11] Speaker A: Well, you have coffee. I mean, I don't know what's wrong with you that you didn't bring any for me, but I'm just kidding. No, I mean, like, because you were talking about being a DJ before. So first and foremost, would you say that that is like.
[00:12:21] Speaker B: Like, no.
[00:12:22] Speaker A: Is that. Is that what you did first?
[00:12:24] Speaker B: No.
[00:12:25] Speaker A: Okay. Did you stumble into that through other things?
[00:12:30] Speaker B: So I used to have a.
A rap group.
So, like, before any of it, I was a traditional artist.
[00:12:41] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:12:42] Speaker B: In the way of drawing and painting.
[00:12:44] Speaker A: Visual arts.
[00:12:45] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:12:46] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:12:46] Speaker B: Drawing and painting. In high school, I was like, oh. So drawing and painting. I started drawing Ninja turtles. That was like my thing.
[00:12:58] Speaker A: That was one of the first things that I drew. Shut the f. Shut up. I'm not kidding you.
[00:13:02] Speaker B: Are you kidding me? Michelangelo was my guy because it was.
[00:13:06] Speaker A: Like geometric shapes, which is how I was able to do it.
[00:13:10] Speaker B: Curve on the head, curve on the side, curve on the side, and then curve on the bottom. And then you draw the little smile and you draw the bandana.
[00:13:16] Speaker A: We are going to draw.
[00:13:18] Speaker B: We're like. We're very much alike. Like, as you were just talking before we started this, I was like, yo, we're so much alike.
[00:13:24] Speaker A: Yeah. That's why I keep. Like, I'm trying. I mean, I usually Joke that I make it about me within the first four seconds. But, like, this is just happening organically.
[00:13:32] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:13:32] Speaker A: But when we get done, we're going to draw fucking Ninja Turtles. Okay.
[00:13:36] Speaker B: Sure.
[00:13:37] Speaker A: I think it would be hilarious.
[00:13:38] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:13:39] Speaker A: You can have Michelangelo.
[00:13:40] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:13:42] Speaker A: Take down a teller.
[00:13:44] Speaker B: Great. All right, so traditional arts. Visual arts first. Then I became a rapper and a producer.
[00:13:51] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:13:51] Speaker B: Around the age of 12 to like 15. We did tours and everything.
[00:13:55] Speaker A: That's awesome.
[00:13:56] Speaker B: It was wild. And then that kind of. Oh. I went to college for electronic media arts and communications at rpi.
So that was pretty much multidisciplinary arts along with like management and communications and also like computer science. So like just a wide breadth of different things in the way in which, you know, my life is now.
And then moved to Florida, got some more studies in music production and recording arts, came to New York City and I worked in post production. I was working with, like, all different types of organizations and networks and like, you know, NBC and Nickelodeon and Discovery Channel and stuff like that, and opened up a multimedia studio on Delaware Avenue with my uncle, who was one of the first people who put me in a studio.
And then from there I was like, I'm gonna move back to New York City. And. But it didn't ever happen.
And I got like a job at GE and like, it was like, Jesus. Yeah. And then like this job at ge, you know, that's like, for people up here, that's like, oh, that's the. And especially at that time, that's the pinnacle of the type of corporate job.
[00:15:28] Speaker A: Yeah, that or like a state job.
[00:15:30] Speaker B: Yeah. To be able to climb the ranks and things like that. And I got an opportunity to travel the world in 2014 doing what I love, which was film and photography.
And so I went to. And they were like, you can stay here at GE or, you know, you can leave and go do this thing. And I went to Rwanda in Tanzania and like London, and it was crazy. Like, what?
Guatemala. Wow. Doing film and photography.
[00:16:06] Speaker A: Your article is going to be a two parter. You watch. It's going to. We're never going to be able to cover everything. That's amazing, though.
[00:16:12] Speaker B: So that was 2014.
And then through that, just getting involved in different nonprofits and. And I was on the founding board of the Albany Barn, which is like something that's just. I was super passionate about.
And then from there, I think just having all of those connections through the barn is how I really launched my multimedia business. And through the Barn also is where we were able to cultivate just A lot of relationships, you know, and having that space to be able to bring our resources together with some of my closest friends. That's how the collective kind of started. That's how collective effort started. It's just like, oh, you have a camera. I have a camera. I have some recording equipment. Like, when you walk into an organization with three people. Three people, as opposed to one person, it looks like you're something.
[00:17:22] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:17:23] Speaker B: You know, and then now Instead of this 3,000, it's. It's wild how the range change. It was like this project would have been $3,000. Now it's $80,000 just by having three people in the room.
[00:17:38] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah.
[00:17:40] Speaker B: And that's collective effort. And then at that same time, other things were bubbling from like Power Breakfast Club, which is that 6:30 in the morning meeting that we do every Tuesday where we talk about different things from how to buy a house to next week. We're talking about how to build a sustainable house to relationships and work life balance and all these different types of things, which has become like this really third space for young. I mean, I would say young professionals. You know, we're, we're kind of getting up there now, but there, there are, I don't accept.
But it's, it's become this space where like, people haven't felt, seen and haven't been able to find community. We've had people who are just like, I was going to leave if I didn't find people to connect with.
[00:18:36] Speaker A: Well, thank God you did.
[00:18:38] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:18:38] Speaker A: Thank God for this community that you did.
[00:18:40] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:18:41] Speaker A: I have found in my travels, which haven't been as, as sophisticated as yours yet, but in my travels, I have found that as much as I love the Capitol district, there's a bit of a chill to it. Not in like a relax and like a, like people are a little cold sometimes.
[00:19:00] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:19:01] Speaker A: Like, you know, even you get like an hour outside and you stop to get a cup of coffee somewhere and somebody's like, good morning, how are you? You're like, like, they take, they catch you off guard just by being friendly. And I, I mean that. Like, listen, it's like one of those things. Like, I can say it because I live here. If somebody outside said it, I, you know, kick their ass or whatever. But like, I've noticed that a lot and I feel like. But once you break through it and once you really start to work with people, I don't know if it's a defense thing. I don't know if it's a trauma thing or what. I Don't know if it's thing, but like once, like people really start to work together. And so when you say that you think people feel alone, I think it's because in a sense they are, because they haven't broken through that yet.
[00:19:47] Speaker B: Like, I know that's so true.
[00:19:48] Speaker A: I have like, I have a, you know, an icy facade sometimes to somebody, it's a defense mechanism. It's like you got to get through once you do. Like, I mean, I think the people that I keep around me are. Could speak to, to that. You know, I have my ways. But like, once you get in, like, I'm the most loyal person we're all going to get. We're going to work really well together, but you gotta get in there first.
[00:20:10] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:20:11] Speaker A: And I, I wish people really could see all of the resources that we do have in this area and all of these great, like collaborative efforts and the, the nightlife and the arts and I just, you know, we have to figure out a way to just keep pushing this message to get people to come out, hang out.
[00:20:31] Speaker B: No, I agree. And that's. What you mentioned is. It's so important.
I can wait.
[00:20:39] Speaker A: No, no, keep going. I just wanna.
[00:20:41] Speaker B: What you mentioned is so important. There is like this kind of thing you have to break through because I've heard so many times where it's like, oh man, Albany is so cliquish or like, you know, this.
But it's like, you know, you really just have to make so much of an effort, you know, and it can be tough making friends as a.
[00:21:03] Speaker A: Sure.
[00:21:03] Speaker B: As an adult too.
[00:21:06] Speaker A: Well, you call it networking when you get older, right?
[00:21:08] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, I guess you call it networking, but what does it take to get beyond networking and really having intimacy with the relationships you have? You know, beyond that kind of transactional, you know, beyond that transaction. Right.
[00:21:28] Speaker A: Especially with people that are entrepreneurs. It's tough because there is a lot that is transactional.
[00:21:32] Speaker B: What can we do together?
[00:21:33] Speaker A: Yeah, but I'm always like, but I don't. Like, even now, if I'm like selling like a Metroland ad, I'm like, I still want to talk to you. You could say no. And we can still be friends.
[00:21:42] Speaker B: No.
[00:21:42] Speaker A: Yeah, we can be friends, you know, but it's like. But yeah, when.
Sorry, go. I'll let you finish.
[00:21:49] Speaker B: No, it's okay.
I forgot where I was. I was. I forgot where I was going. I was, I was thinking about it though.
[00:21:57] Speaker A: Oh, making friends when you get older.
[00:21:59] Speaker B: Yeah, making friends when you get older.
[00:22:02] Speaker A: Well, I had to because when I got sober 14 years ago.
[00:22:06] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:22:06] Speaker A: I needed all new friends because I couldn't hang out with the same crew for sure. And so I was like, this is daunting. But it was great because all the new friends that I had only knew me as sober. And I think of, like, that's when I met Kiki and some of her other friends. And I'll never forget, Kiki and I were at a bar. Cause I, you know, could still go out. I can handle it and everything, but, like, I forget who's looking out for me sometimes. And I'm sitting at the end of the bar, and one of the bar backs put two bottles of liquor in front of me to give to the bartender. And before they even hit the bar, I see Kiki's arms just come in front of me and pick them up and move them to the other end. She saw it happening and was like, nope. And then, like, I went to, like, a party with her and, like, some of her friends, and I got there, and there were all these notes around this watermelon, like, telling me not to eat it because there was vodka in it. And I was something. I was like, that's a good friend. So it is possible to make friends in your 30s and even your 40s. Yeah, it absolutely is. You can call it whatever you want if it makes you feel.
[00:23:05] Speaker B: That's incredible.
[00:23:06] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:23:07] Speaker B: To be able to be seen. And something I think about often is. Is just how you hear these people talking about, oh, I'm an empath. I'm an empath. You know, and, like, that's not impressive.
[00:23:19] Speaker A: No.
[00:23:19] Speaker B: You know, because the human being, that's our being social animals, having empathy is one of the most human things that you can have. You know what I mean? It's one of the most basic things. But our society is something that is taking us away from that. That is taking away us away from that. Yes.
[00:23:45] Speaker A: And sometimes there's almost an element of narcissism to somebody's empathy because they're kind of, like, making it about them.
[00:23:52] Speaker B: Yeah. It's empathy is what keeps us safe.
[00:23:56] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:23:57] Speaker B: So your friends, the Kikis and all of that, it's like, all right, I'm keeping Aaron safe, you know, from the dangers of this. And it's like that. That would be the same thing as, you know, calling out when, you know, we see a pack of wolves or something like that if. If we were, you know.
[00:24:15] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:24:16] Speaker B: At that time or whatever, you know.
[00:24:17] Speaker A: Yeah. But as long as. Again, like, you know, like, finding a way to, like, the true Empaths are ones that just do it without thinking about it.
[00:24:25] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:24:25] Speaker A: True empaths, I think. Don't really say I'm such an empath.
[00:24:29] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:24:29] Speaker A: I feel like those are, like, the ones that are a little more towards, like, the narcissist. They're like, oh, God, it's been so rough watching my friend go through this. And it's like, think about, like, has it been rough for you to watch your friend go through it?
[00:24:44] Speaker B: Yeah. Yeah.
[00:24:45] Speaker A: Sorry it's been so taxing on you. Like, come on.
[00:24:48] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:24:49] Speaker A: You can have your feelings about it, but, like, you're making it about yourself.
[00:24:53] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah.
[00:24:54] Speaker A: So I'm just such an empath. You're an asshole.
[00:24:59] Speaker B: I'm feeling it. I'm sitting at home. Yeah.
Yeah. When really it's like, for me, I've been loving the bar scene. Honestly, I've been loving.
[00:25:11] Speaker A: And you look right at home at it.
[00:25:13] Speaker B: Yeah. And. And I'm not in a healthy way. Yeah, exactly. So I'm not a big. Even though I love the bar scene, I love the party scene. I'm not even a huge partier, you.
[00:25:23] Speaker A: Know, that's probably why you can do this job exactly on your own supply.
[00:25:28] Speaker B: I just love creating the space. That's it. And I love seeing people happy, you know, And I love people saying, oh, my gosh. Like, I was in Fruit Loop doing a little stupid video, you know, of me just sitting there. Because it feels kind of like a fancy little space. And I cross my legs and I'm just like, ah, look at me. I'm just. I'm just in this space. And then someone from behind the bar goes, oh, oh, are you the guy from the Whiskey Pickle? And then the person who was recording it, Jayanna, she cut it off. But after that, the person behind was like, oh, my gosh, I love the music that has been in there these past few weeks, and it's just been incredible. And I'm so glad that you've opened this space back up. And the number one comment that we get all the time is just like, when I heard it was closing, I was depressed. Literally saying that I was depressed.
[00:26:27] Speaker A: And you saved people from that.
[00:26:29] Speaker B: And people were like, this was the only place I went out in Troy. The only.
So it's.
[00:26:36] Speaker A: So you provided a service for sure. That's all. And that's got to feel really validating, like you did.
[00:26:41] Speaker B: It's really dope.
[00:26:42] Speaker A: You did it in the hopes that you would have that effect on people, but it's gone beyond what you could have ever imagined. Right? Yeah.
[00:26:50] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:26:50] Speaker A: You're like, I'm just going to help my friend's business out. I'm going to keep this cool place alive. But like, then people actually tell you what it meant to them and that's got to be amazing.
[00:26:58] Speaker B: It was beyond what I was expecting. Yeah, for sure.
[00:27:02] Speaker A: And like, similarly, again, making it about me real quick with the Metroland.
[00:27:06] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:27:06] Speaker A: People that said that they were so sad when it was gone and they were really excited to see it come back. And I knew that people were going to be excited, but I didn't know how excited, like, that was what was really cool. And being out places like similarly and have people like, you're the Metroland lady. I'm like, you know what? Sure. If that's what I'm known for now, that's not a bad moniker, you know.
[00:27:25] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:27:26] Speaker A: But so cool. Do you find that when you get, like, kind of comfortable in something that you get a little bored and maybe that's why other things start to bubble up?
[00:27:36] Speaker B: What a good question. That's great. That's a good one.
Hmm. Have you ever read the book Poke the Box?
[00:27:46] Speaker A: No.
[00:27:47] Speaker B: So it's. I don't know how to say his last name is G O D I N Godin or Godin.
[00:27:52] Speaker A: I think it's Godin.
[00:27:53] Speaker B: Godin. Seth Godin.
And he has this book called Poke the Box. And it's a small, fairly small book, I think less 100 pages or less. And he talked and it really could be like three pages because basically all it is is about the person with the idea and the energy to execute the idea and how important that is inside of your team. Because a lot of times we don't find the importance in that. We always find the person who can continue to have the energy to do something.
So I, I had a wellness studio a few years ago, of course, called Rooted. Yeah.
A holistic health wellness studio that I started with my partner at the time. And it was this incredible thing. It was, you know, we were doing group therapy, you know, men's groups and women's groups and, you know, other anybody, you know, along with yoga and African inspired dancing and so many different things. And we ended up having to sell it. Well, my partner and I split. But just the ignition of that was just so important to so many different people. We helped launch some people's careers in holistic health.
And then so we had to like, kind of reframe what the purpose of it was at that time, which is like, you know, it's not meant to be something that, you know, maybe we were supposed to do for 20 years, but it was so important to just have it, you know, it could have been a block party.
[00:29:47] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:29:47] Speaker B: You never know what could have been the butterfly effect of that block party. But we did a freaking two and a half year block party that was, like, really cool. And we provided a space in the south end of Albany where we need it. Right where we need it. You know what I mean?
And it was perfect. And I think.
Yeah, this book, Poke the Box, talks about that.
[00:30:11] Speaker A: Okay. Important is a bad word because I don't think that, like, bored, maybe, like, not challenged anymore or like, much like.
[00:30:21] Speaker B: I said, I'm a problem solver and I really like the energy behind new problems.
Yeah. Is. Are you giving me a pound?
[00:30:32] Speaker A: I. Sure. I mean, I just love how you just put that because you kind of also diagnosed me at the same time. Because I. I've always been wondering what makes me, like, uncomfortable to where I'm like, okay, I'm gonna go do this now or I'm gonna do that now. But, like, that's it. Yeah, that's it.
[00:30:50] Speaker B: I love it.
[00:30:51] Speaker A: I love it. I feel like you and I could talk for.
[00:30:56] Speaker B: Yeah, I'm chilling for a year. Yeah, for sure.
[00:31:01] Speaker A: I. I would love to have you back.
If there was one question that you wish other interviewers would ask you when you get interviewed for something, what would it be? There's, like, something you wish people knew about you.
[00:31:17] Speaker B: Damn. Like, what is.
What do I wish people would ask about me?
I feel like that last question was so good.
[00:31:34] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:31:35] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:31:36] Speaker A: Yeah. I kind of feel like that was a really good, like, resolve kind of thing. I mean, we're gonna talk more for, like, this, like, I told you, this is the beginning.
[00:31:45] Speaker B: Like, do you get bored, like. And, like, do you do more because you get bored? Because, I mean, such a good question.
[00:31:51] Speaker A: I got to a really good place, like, financially, with music, but it was just. I was fucking bored.
I wasn't challenged. I was like, I was on autopilot. I was playing four or five nights a week. I was making really, a really good living, and I turned it right on its ass. I was like, okay. Like, you know, and I didn't know that this was what it was gonna be, but I completely, in the past few years, just changed everything. And, you know, that's where I landed. And part of me thinks it was because I was just like, yeah, there's no problem to solve. This is too.
[00:32:30] Speaker B: So what are all the things you're.
[00:32:31] Speaker A: Doing right now, right now, I mean, it's pretty much only Metroland.
[00:32:35] Speaker B: Yeah. Wow.
[00:32:37] Speaker A: Doing, you know, a little bit of music and comedy because I'll never be able to stop that.
[00:32:41] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:32:42] Speaker A: But I'm also one of the things that I'm starting with Metroland, which is something that I would love to talk to you more about, is a mentorship program.
Because I've been working with some young women in comedy and music and I would love to do that on a broader scale and like pair musicians and comedians and other artists with youth and put together a show. But give like these kids a chance to do like a real live show in an actual like huge venue with an audience. But like we've helped them prepare their set or we've helped them prepare whatever their, their gift is going to be that they want to share. Or we do like an art show that's just like visual arts. But we've paired them with like a mentorship. And I, I just, I'm working with a 9 year old. She just turned 10 on her first album.
[00:33:33] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:33:34] Speaker A: Because she was writing songs, she came to Lulu.
[00:33:36] Speaker B: Oh, I bet. You know, she's incredible. Are you kidding me?
[00:33:39] Speaker A: She came to my kids open mic.
[00:33:42] Speaker B: And just blew it.
[00:33:43] Speaker A: Blew me away.
[00:33:44] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:33:44] Speaker A: And I told her, I was like, we've been best friends ever since. And I put her on my Cafe Lena show last month.
[00:33:50] Speaker B: She's ridiculous.
[00:33:51] Speaker A: She is ridiculous. And so now we're, we're going to the studio next week.
[00:33:54] Speaker B: Ah, that's so cool.
[00:33:56] Speaker A: Her songs, like I'm, I leave and I'm like singing her songs in my head the rest of the day. I'm like, girl's nine. How is she speaking to me like this? Kiki was at the show at the Cafe Lena. She was like, how is this nine year old making me ball my eyes out? I was like, right.
[00:34:09] Speaker B: But like, I think it feels like, it feels like she's been here before.
[00:34:13] Speaker A: 100%. Yeah. Because I was like, what's this one about? Like, because who, what happened?
And she'll tell you, but then she tells you with like a little bit of a like giggle or something. And I just like, it's, I feel really blessed that I'm in a position where I could offer that space for somebody and I want to do that on a greater scale because when you get to see their face, when they get to perform in front of like a real live audience and like a real live venue and they're, you know, like, I got to show that the comedian that I worked with Last month or in October. And I was like, let's go, we're going to the green room. And she was like, there's a green room? I'm like, yeah, you even get your own little dressing room. And she was like, blown away. Like the littlest things. And I remember I had that when I was, you know, 25 and I thought that was amazing.
[00:35:03] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:35:03] Speaker A: So it's like, I want to be able to do that on a broader scale. And so that's why it's so important to me to make these connections with people like yourself who are community driven and like minded and see how we can blow that up.
[00:35:17] Speaker B: Yeah, I think once you find.
Yeah. Your. Your purpose and your alignment, like, things just, they just line up for you, man. Like, and you know what you shouldn't do? You know what you should do. And you know.
Yeah.
[00:35:32] Speaker A: Yeah. So let's keep doing it for sure. All right. This is, like I said, the first of many, but it's been so awesome. What's coming up at the. At the Pickle that we should know about?
[00:35:40] Speaker B: So we have programming every single week.
A DJ or a band every single day from Thursday through Sunday.
[00:35:48] Speaker A: That's awesome.
[00:35:49] Speaker B: And, you know, really cool communities coming in and, you know, everything from College City Kink, you know, to.
We're doing. What is it called? They're repurposing, like old sweaters so you don't have to go and get the cheap. What is it called?
[00:36:09] Speaker A: Like, fast fashion.
[00:36:11] Speaker B: Yeah, the fast fashion. Ugly sweaters from like Target or Walmart or something like that.
[00:36:16] Speaker A: Oh, right, right, right. Okay.
[00:36:17] Speaker B: We're doing something like that next Friday to our Latin nights. Coming up to no more genre nights was just like, yo, explore music, you know what I mean? As a DJ too, I have Daniel Lawson Trio coming in, which is going to be dope.
DJ true master. We do a Sunday disco every single Sunday.
We really want it to make it an industry night on Sundays. And it's just, we have a lot of dope stuff. I'm putting more mocktails on the menus.
[00:36:50] Speaker A: Why are you speaking to me?
[00:36:51] Speaker B: Yeah, that's where it's at. Coffee drinks. And I just like, I just even like a San Pellegrino over ice. Like, that's my jam. And then like with a little lime.
[00:37:01] Speaker A: I remember the first time I had a club soda by accident because she misheard me. And I was still drinking heavily at the time. But I remember for a split second going like, well, this is lovely.
[00:37:12] Speaker B: Nice little refreshing drink. You know what I mean? That's that's it.
[00:37:15] Speaker A: And now that's my go to.
I love it. How can people find out more about you and about.
[00:37:23] Speaker B: So you can follow me on Instagram at Jamel Moseley. I usually share things about everything I that I do on there.
And then, you know, Whiskey Pickle Troy, Collective Effort and Upstate's Cold Brew. And also my DJ moniker is Intel Hayesville. Yeah.
[00:37:40] Speaker A: As if that. I wouldn't be like anything else. But I mean, we've run out of page with you. I love it.
[00:37:45] Speaker B: Thank you. This was like, super easy and, you know, I feel comfortable.
[00:37:52] Speaker A: Good.
[00:37:52] Speaker B: Thank you.
[00:37:52] Speaker A: Yeah, we're definitely going to do it again on and off air because I. We. I feel like we have a lot to talk about for sure.
[00:37:58] Speaker B: Absolutely.
[00:37:59] Speaker A: But it's been so great talking to you. You can check out Jamel Moseley on Instagram.
[00:38:04] Speaker B: That's good enough. No.
[00:38:06] Speaker A: Yep. Whiskey Pickle. Whiskey Pickle Troy on Instagram. So check him out. Find him. I'm Aaron Harks. This has been the Mistress of None. And we'll be right back.
You're listening to the Mistress of Nun podcast with Erin Harks.
